The Last Dragon Rider (Book 1 of Rider Series)

Chapter 58

I walked out of the sewing shop a few minutes after I finished my conversation with my mother and looked around before I started to make my way to my house again.

I didn't say a word to the constant stream of people that greeted me, only giving them a quick nod in greeting while I made my way home, making sure to keep an eye out for any of my siblings or anyone trying to get my attention for something urgent.

But nothing ever came up with it...

I breathed a small sigh of relief when I didn't see any of my siblings out and about while I made my way home, which meant that my siblings were where they needed to be and that I didn't have to worry about them.

But why did something keep feeling a little off..?

I set my jaw and narrowed my eyes while I looked around, my whole body growing tense, but I didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

Could it be in the place where the sun doesn't shine..? I silently wondered and narrowed my eyes further while I glanced toward one of the entrances but passed it without stopping.

I didn't know why, but it could be that way...

I bit back an annoyed groan but didn't turn around and walk through that entrance, instead going with my gut and kept walking toward the next entrance.

If Griffth is trying to get through it to go somewhere else, then he is in deep trouble... I pursed my lips in annoyance and narrowed my eyes while I thought about my younger brother, who was supposed to be watching over the kids and not doing something stupid like this.

Only the Great knew what would happen if he did...

I picked my pace again and weaved through the crowd, not caring about anyone or anything besides getting to the next entrance and seeing if my brother was trying to go through it to go somewhere else.

"If he does, then I am going to kill him," I muttered under my breath, not loud enough for anyone to hear. "I will not let anyone else kill him or hurt him, but I will. He knows better."

Sure enough, as soon as I made it to the other entrance, I saw a gangly looking figure, wearing a cloak, that I knew to be my brother looking around before he ducked inside as if he thought he was safe.

Oh, for the love of the Great...

I bit back an annoyed groan and picked up my pace until I was almost running. My whole body was tense, and I couldn't help but become worried about my brother and what would happen to him if he crossed paths with someone else.

Please, don't let him get hurt... I silently prayed to the Great, pressing my lips into a thin line. Mama would kill me if he were.

My heart pounded hard and fast in my chest while I continued that way, a lump in my throat appearing with each step that I took toward the entrance. My whole body was tense while I walked through the entrance and into the darkness, not knowing where my brother was located.

"Come on, Griffith," I said, my voice barely above a whisper while I kept walking through the darkness, turning my head from one way to the other, but I had no idea where he was.

Oh for the love of the Great...

My throat closed, and my whole body grew tense while I looked around, trying but failing to find my brother.

Oh, please don't let him be hurt by someone, I silently prayed and grabbed my basket, tighter, setting my jaw. Please, I am scared that something bad h-

"Oomph, please, let me go. I'm sorry," someone said from my left, and I bit back a small sigh of relief because I knew that it was my brother. "I didn't mean to go in here. I just needed to get home before my sister gets home."

"And who is your sister?" the person asked with a sneer in their voice while they watched my brother struggle against them. "Or are you afraid to say who?"

"Balis," my brother said, saying what he had been told to say, and I quickly picked up my pace until I was near but not near them. He kept struggling to get away from this person, who thankfully didn't have a weapon that I could see on him, to no avail. "Marini Balis of the Southern Tip."

The person scoffed a laugh, and I had a feeling that he rolled his eyes and scowled. "I do not know of anyone named Marini Balis," he sneered. "You are lying."

"No, I am not," my brother said while he continued to struggle against the person. "Please, I am begging you. Let me go before she comes here. She is going to be mad at not only you but me as well."

I slowed down and moved closer to the shadows, silently debating on whether or not I wanted to brandish a weapon toward them.

My whole body was tense while I walked forward and kept my gaze on them, ny heart pounding hard and fast in my chest.

"And why would she be mad at me?" the person asked and shoved my brother to the ground, and my brother fell with a small oomph, his hood falling just a bit but not all the way. "She can not be in here either."

My brother didn't say a word and stared at the patron of this place, inching himself away from them. His face was pale, even though most of it was hidden from view, and I knew that his eyes were wide and filled with fear.

He had no idea what was going to happen and had no idea if he was going to be able to survive this thing.

He had no idea how to get into contact with me...

The patron's back was still toward me and seemed to shake with laughter as if they knew that my brother was stuck with nowhere to hide and nowhere to run. "You got yourself stuck now, Boy," they sneered, narrowing their eyes while they bared their teeth at him. "What are you going to do now?"

Griffth didn't say a word to him and looked around as if he was trying to find someone to help him but couldn't.

Finally, his gaze landed on me while I slunk out of the shadows near them, and relief flashed through his eyes while he mouthed one word.

And that word was...

..."help."